Note: This document contains side effect information about ferric carboxymaltose. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Injectafer.
Applies to ferric carboxymaltose: intravenous solution.
Serious side effects of Injectafer
Along with its needed effects, ferric carboxymaltose (the active ingredient contained in Injectafer) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking ferric carboxymaltose:
Less common
- Blurred vision
- bone pain
- confusion
- dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
- feeling of warmth
- headache
- loss of appetite
- nervousness
- pounding in the ears
- redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
- seizures
- slow or fast heartbeat
- sweating
- trouble breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
- Chest discomfort or tightness
- chills
- cough
- difficult or labored breathing
- difficulty swallowing
- fainting
- fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
- fever
- hives, itching, skin rash
- large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
Other side effects of Injectafer
Some side effects of ferric carboxymaltose may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Nausea
Less common
- Change in taste
- discoloration at the injection site
- loss of taste
- vomiting
Rare
- Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
- constipation
- diarrhea
- pain or irritation at the injection site
- sneezing
- stomach pain
Incidence not known
- Back pain
- difficulty with moving
- muscle pain or stiffness
- pain in the joints
- redness of the skin
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to ferric carboxymaltose: intravenous solution.
Cardiovascular
Common (1% to 10%): Flushing/hot flush, hypertension, hypotension
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chest pain, peripheral edema, tachycardia
Rare (less than 0.1%): Phlebitis
Postmarketing reports: Chest discomfort, pallor[Ref]
Dermatologic
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Erythema, rash, pruritus, urticaria
Postmarketing reports: Angioedema, dermatitis[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia
Rare (less than 0.1%): Flatulence[Ref]
Hepatic
Common (1% to 10%): Alanine aminotransferase increase
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Aspartate aminotransferase increase, gamma glutamyl transferase increase[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, rash, urticaria, wheezing, and hypertension associated with hypersensitivity reactions
Rare (less than 0.1%): Serious anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions[Ref]
Local
Injection site reactions include infusion site burning, -pain, -bruising, -discoloration, -extravasation, -irritation, and -paresthesia.[Ref]
Common (1% to 10%): Injection site reactions[Ref]
Metabolic
Common (1% to 10%): Blood phosphorus decrease, hypophosphatemia
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blood alkaline phosphatase increase, blood lactate dehydrogenase increase[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Postmarketing reports: Arthralgia, back pain, hypophosphatemic osteomalacia, muscle spasms, myalgia[Ref]
Nervous system
Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, dysgeusia, headache
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paraesthesia
Rare (less than 0.1%): Syncope, presyncope
Postmarketing reports: Loss of consciousness[Ref]
Other
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills, fatigue, pain, pyrexia
Rare (less than 0.1%): Malaise, rigors
Frequency not reported: Overestimate of serum iron and transferrin bound iron laboratory assays
Postmarketing reports: Face edema, vertigo[Ref]
Respiratory
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sneezing
Rare (less than 0.1%): Bronchospasm
Postmarketing reports: Dyspnea[Ref]
Psychiatric
Rare (less than 0.1%): Anxiety[Ref]
